Circuit reliability upgrades begin in Aquebogue, Jamesport and Riverhead

PSEG Long Island has announced upcoming storm hardening work in Aquebogue, Jamesport and Riverhead intended to improve the reliability of the energy grid in the area.

The work will begin at the end of April and is expected to last approximately two months, the utility said in a press release Thursday. 

PSEG-LI said the storm-hardening improvements include:

Stronger poles: PSEG-LI will replace some existing utility poles with stronger, more durable poles that are capable of withstanding winds up to 135 mph. 

The new poles will be approximately the same height as the existing poles, have a stronger base and will be placed no more than 5 feet from the current pole locations. PSEG Long Island will actively coordinate the removal of old poles with other utilities and municipalities, according to the press release.

Narrow profiles: To help wires deflect falling limbs instead of catching them, PSEG-LI will install shorter cross arms atop some poles.

Stronger wire: Current wire will be replaced with more resilient and durable wire.

Upgrading: PSEG-LI will upgrade or replace worn equipment as necessary.

Local roads where where work will be conducted

Crews will be working on the following roads in Aquebogue, Jamesport and Riverhead:

• Tuthills Lane between North Apollo Drive and just south of South Apollo Drive

• Main Road between Washington Avenue and Circle Drive

• Edgar Avenue between Main Road and Hubbard Avenue

• Hubbard Avenue between Edgar Avenue and Overlook Drive

• Intersection at Overlook Drive and Meeting House Creek Road

• Middle Road between Doctor’s Path and Fanning Boulevard

• Old Country Road between Northville Turnpike and Doctor’s Path 

The work is part of PSEG Long Island’s Power On program, started in the spring of 2020, to prepare the grid for extreme weather in order to maintain reliable service for approximately 1.2 million customers, the utility said. Since the launch of the Power On program, “more than 420 miles of the most vulnerable distribution mainline and branch line circuits on Long Island and in the Rockaways have been storm hardened with stronger poles, thicker wire and other modern equipment,” PSEG-LI said in the press release.

These investments have strengthened the system so that fewer customers experience outages and, when they do occur, the duration is shorter, especially during extreme weather, the utility said. 

Power On focuses on mainline circuits, the backbone of the distribution system. The main lines feed the many branch lines that power the homes and businesses in individual communities.